My brother was dead. My last living brother. The one that was just older than I was. My father had just received the news. I had eavesdropped at the door to my fathers reception hall. The Arrancars were slowly killing off my family. I would be next and then it would be my father. You see my father is king of the Seireitei. When he dies I will be queen.

I turned from the door and ran out of the hall past the guards as I left the palace. I never needed anyone to follow me. There were enough people here to keep me safe. Enough people that would give their lives for mine.

Two blocks after the palace I turned left taking a shortcut to a friend's home. He was off today. I had received a letter from him about a week ago telling me his schedule. Three and a half blocks later I cut through an alley. A few minutes later I was knocking at his door. I heard him muter to himself as he got up to answer it. "Next time I'm supposed to be off, don't come knocking at my door expecting me to go to work. I hate it when that happens. In fact I think I'll send the messenger away."

By now he was at the door. It was opening and there he was. Renji Abarai, the man that my father had chosen for me to marry when I reached the age of eighteen. "Hey Renji. What's up," I said quietly trying not to cry.

"Arina! Hey not much. Are you okay," he asked seeing the tears forming in my eyes.

I shook my head.

"Come inside. Tell me what happened," Renji told me. I walked and took off my zori. I went to his living room and sat down on the small couch that was there. Renji joined me and pulled me into his lap.

"It's Toshimaki," I sniffed. "He's dead." The tears came then. For the past few years my brothers (in genealogical order) Masakazu, Mamoru, Ryozo, Haru and now Toshimaki, were killed while protecting the human world from hollows. Only the captains and lieutenants of the Gotei Thirteen knew the truth. The royal family was wanted. Dead.

Renji let me cry. He always has. First he had been like a brother. Now he's a really good friend. I love him. I'd always loved him.

Eventually the tears ended. Still, I leaned against Renji for support.

"You know that nothing will ever happen to you so long as I'm around, right," Renji asked.

I nodded my head yes, not sure where this was going.

"You know that I will always be your shoulder to cry on, correct? And that I would gladly give up being a Soul Reaper to be with you each and every day?"

Again, I nodded my head yes.

"Do you know that I love you with all of my being," he asked quietly.

I had to shake my head no to that. I'd had no idea that Renji loved me as much as I loved him.

"I love you too, Renji." He hugged me closer.

Eventually, Renji knowing who I was got my mind off of my brother. He drove me into other topics, such as my fathers birthday celebration that was coming up soon.

Time passed. Soon it grew dark outside. Renji asked me to stay for dinner. I accepted. He was a good cook anyway. While Renji started to cook, a knock came at the door.

"I'll get it," I told him.

When I opened the door, a messenger boy from the palace stood there. It was a friend of mine named Hoshitomo.

"Your father thought you would be here Lady Arina," he said bowing. "He asked me to tell you that it's okay if you want to stay here tonight. He also says that he trusts you and Abarai-sama not to do anything you would regret."

He spoke before I could ask the question that was sitting on the tip of my tongue.

"Thanks Hoshi. Tell my dad I love him very much and that I owe him one please," I asked.

"No problem." And with that Hoshitomo bowed again and left.

As I shut the door, I heard Renji trying to sneak up behind me. There was one problem. He had a squeaky board about three feet from where I was standing. When he steppe don it, I turned around and saw the scowl on his face. I laughed. I went over to him and gave him a hug. He smiled.

Then Renji asked a question. A question that I have never forgotten.